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Regions - Trip reports, destination advice, recommended routes, etc. => Wales => Topic started by: Bigfoot_Mike on 21:36:56, 22/10/18

Title: Crib Goch Foxes Path
Post by: Bigfoot_Mike on 21:36:56, 22/10/18
i have seen this called the Foxes Path and the Goat Path. Does anyone know how easy this path is to find from the Crib Goch North Ridge end? I have seen a few descriptions from Bwlch Y Moch, but none from the North Ridge. I have previously descended the North Ridge into Cwm Glas Mawr when reversing Crib Goch, but wasn’t aware of this path at the time.
Title: Re: Crib Goch Foxes Path
Post by: vghikers on 08:21:10, 23/10/18
Reports vary but I would expect a lot of difficulty if you're not very familiar with the cwm (we've never walked that path ourselves).
Peter Hermon describes that path from the Bwlch y Moch end in his book as "...a faint trail, little more than a sheep track but well cairned...", but I've heard other reports of total failure to find it from the other end and subsequent attempts to navigate the pathless terrain. One of the latter gives a grim account of ending up on a traverse of very steep and precarious ground, and that's without the added potential problem of thick mist on the day.
Title: Re: Crib Goch Foxes Path
Post by: Bigfoot_Mike on 09:42:56, 23/10/18
I have descended from North a Ridge into Cwm Glas Mawr previously, but dislike the walk down the road to Nant Peris. I was hoping to use this path to get to Pen y Pass and then the PYG in order to use the Miners’ Path to gain access to The Glyders. This would have the advantage of missing out the road and the slog up Elidir Fawr. I have gone up this way several times before and have no burning desire to repeat it.


I was wondering if I would need to traverse around the end of the ridge to find the path, or if there is a descent direct from the ridge. Of course, I could descend the east ridge, but that doesn’t greatly appeal.
Title: Re: Crib Goch Foxes Path
Post by: fernman on 11:41:31, 23/10/18
This topic is of interest to me because I attempted the route several years ago, and failed. That could almost be me that vghikers wrote about above!

Firstly, the name: I have a collection of book references, snippets from articles and web links about the route, half of which call it the Foxes or Foxs Path and the rest call it the Goat Path, so take your pick. Further confusion is caused by there also being a Fox's Path on Cadair Idris.

If you go eastwards from Cwm Glas towards the North Ridge there is a distinctive 'notch' in the ridge to aim for, and while there is no path it is easy walking on grassy terraces. East of the ridge, though, all I found was a faint little sheeps trod (or goats!) that soon disappeared.

However, there was a trip report six years ago http://www.walkingforum.co.uk/index.php?topic=18644.0 (http://www.walkingforum.co.uk/index.php?topic=18644.0) that included near its start a photo showing a very clear path at the Bwlch Moch end.

Title: Re: Crib Goch Foxes Path
Post by: Bigfoot_Mike on 11:01:38, 04/11/18
If I can get fit enough, I will hopefully have an attempt on the 3000s next year and will be descending the north ridge into Cwm Glas Mawr. If I make it there I will keep an eye out to see if I can spot the path.
Title: Re: Crib Goch Foxes Path
Post by: Glyno on 19:36:45, 04/11/18
From Pen-y-pas, take the usual path for Bwlch y Moch and take the right-hand fork for Crib Goch. At grid ref SH 62886 55225, take a feint path off to the right and head for a distinct outcrop on the skyline ahead for the start of north ridge approach to Crib Goch.


Hope this makes sense.
Title: Re: Crib Goch Foxes Path
Post by: Bigfoot_Mike on 19:45:46, 04/11/18
Thanks Glyno. I am going to be descending the North Ridge, so want to find the path fr9m the opposite end so that I can return to Pen Y Pass. Do you have any hints for this direction?
Title: Re: Crib Goch Foxes Path
Post by: Glyno on 16:01:19, 05/11/18
This is a screenshot from a tracklog, may be of help?


(https://i.imgur.com/lSvECXp.jpg)
Title: Re: Crib Goch Foxes Path
Post by: fernman on 19:03:57, 05/11/18
May I be the first to thank you for your information, Glyno. The route on the map you posted shows what I expected from your earlier description of it.

All the accounts I read before I attempted it said that you contour around the slopes from the 'notch' on the North Ridge to Bwlch Moch, which I can now see is a bit misleading, for I tried to take a more direct route from one to the other rather than turning sharply back parallel with the ridge.

If I had overcome my nerves and succeeded with my wrong way I would have overshot Bwlch Moch anyway (which wouldn't have hurt, though, for I was headed for Pen-y-Pass).

EDIT: I looked again at the information I had, one of them says the path goes around the mountainside at around the 1,400 feet contour, 427m in today's money, which if you look at the map is quite inaccurate. 
Title: Re: Crib Goch Foxes Path
Post by: Bigfoot_Mike on 19:10:42, 05/11/18
Thanks Glyno. That gives me an idea of where the path leaves the ridge. The biggest at the moment is not route finding, but fitness. An Achilles‘ tendon injury followed by the recurrence of an old back problem has kept me out of action for 4 months.
Title: Re: Crib Goch Foxes Path
Post by: chrislawley on 11:33:40, 23/11/18

Google Earth shows the path fairly clearly... I suspect finding it in the flesh is not as easy

(https://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b80/Noxxus/Image2_zps1l36jl2r.jpg)[/URL]
Title: Re: Crib Goch Foxes Path
Post by: Bigfoot_Mike on 13:54:03, 23/11/18
Google Earth shows the path fairly clearly... I suspect finding it in the flesh is not as easy

(https://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b80/Noxxus/Image2_zps1l36jl2r.jpg)[/URL]


It looks like it will be quite important to find the correct route. It could be a bit tricky straying off line.
Title: Re: Crib Goch Foxes Path
Post by: fernman on 08:38:57, 24/11/18
I could be wrong but I think that shot makes it look steeper than it actually is! Certainly steeper than I recall from memory.


Title: Re: Crib Goch Foxes Path
Post by: Bigfoot_Mike on 09:52:09, 24/11/18
I could be wrong but I think that shot makes it look steeper than it actually is! Certainly steeper than I recall from memory.
Following your comment, I looked at a few other locations I am familiar with on Google Earth. It does appear that some locations can look steeper than they appear on the ground. Even quite close by, the descent from the North Ridge into Cwm Glas Mawr looks more difficult than I remember it. It seems that the magnification and angle selected in GE may distort the perspective.
Title: Re: Crib Goch Foxes Path
Post by: redeye on 19:10:12, 24/11/18
Not sure if this will help but it shows how faint the path is. It is relatively easy to follow though but there are one of two steep bullies to be aware of. A great way on to the north ridge and you have the cloud inversions as well........ O0
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=GgxDpeVYkPc
Title: Re: Crib Goch Foxes Path
Post by: fernman on 08:38:29, 25/11/18
Thanks Redeye, nice video. The path looks clearer than some so-called paths I've walked on. Must watch out for those bullies, though (alright, I've seen that B is near G on the keyboard).

As for the whole route, blimey Mike, are you sure you still want to do it?

 
Title: Re: Crib Goch Foxes Path
Post by: Bigfoot_Mike on 08:55:46, 25/11/18
Not sure if this will help but it shows how faint the path is. It is relatively easy to follow though but there are one of two steep bullies to be aware of. A great way on to the north ridge and you have the cloud inversions as well........ O0
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=GgxDpeVYkPc (https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=GgxDpeVYkPc)


Thanks. That is an interesting video.
Title: Re: Crib Goch Foxes Path
Post by: Bigfoot_Mike on 09:10:27, 25/11/18
As for the whole route, blimey Mike, are you sure you still want to do it?


I am hoping to tackle the 3000s with some work friends on my next trip to Snowdonia. The planned route will take us down Crib Goch and the North Ridge to Cwm Glas Mawr, followed by the road to Nant Peris, etc. If successful, my thoughts were to plan another attempt on the 3000s by a more pleasing route, avoiding walking on the road as far as possible. In this scenario, we would use the Foxes Path to return to Pen Y Pass. From there we would walk to the PyG via the (new to me) path or via Moel Berfedd. This would allow us to use the Miners’ Path into the Glyders / Tryfan. I know this would add distance, but would be more pleasing to me than road walking. A real classic approach (probably over more than 1 day) would start by reversing the Snowdon Horseshoe, climbing Tryfan by the North Ridge, ascending Bristly Ridge, completing the Glyderrau, descending Y Garn NE ridge and into the Carneddau by Pen Yr Olewen east ridge. This would be a serious undertaking over at least 2 days. I suppose I could follow the main ridges by using the north to south route, but there would still be the road to trudge along.


Maybe this would be biting off too much, but at least I can dream. At least I may get the chance to spy out the CG North Ridge end of the Foxes Path when attempting the 3000s.
Title: Re: Crib Goch Foxes Path
Post by: redeye on 12:02:52, 25/11/18
Thanks Redeye, nice video. The path looks clearer than some so-called paths I've walked on. Must watch out for those bullies, though (alright, I've seen that B is near G on the keyboard).

As for the whole route, blimey Mike, are you sure you still want to do it?
Ha ha, just realised thst. Think of Steve Wright, no G  ;D (radio 2 on a Friday)  O0